Scottsdale, Ariz. — Jon Gray threw 120 baseballs Tuesday. He threw 120 baseballs Monday. On Sunday he threw a baseball, not 120 times, but more than a dozen. He’s thrown three days in a row.

It’s been six days since the rookie right-hander suffered an abdominal strain that will keep him off the Rockies opening-day roster. It would have been his first. He’s trying to see the big picture of a season. But for now, it’s difficult to wait.

“It’s hard to be patient,” Gray said Tuesday. “I want to go.”

Gray will start the season on the disabled list. His spot in the rotation might be filled by long-reliever Christian Bergman. Or it might not. The Rockies may use a four-man rotation to start the season, with off-days to spell the cycle.

Gray, they hope, will be back sometime in mid- to late-April. He will throw off a mound in the next three or four days, he said. But he hasn’t been swinging a bat or fielding with many non-pitching movements.

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The Rockies on Tuesday selected the contract of veteran Ryan Raburn, adding him to their roster as a fourth outfielder for opening day. The move kicks in Raburn’s $1.5 million big-league contract.

The Rockies signed the former Cleveland slugger to a minor-league deal last month. And he could have opted out on Monday, the deadline for the Rockies to add him to their 40-man roster.

“I didn’t know Ryan very well, other than the name and seeing him occasionally on TV, since he was in the other league,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “But I’ve seen a professional hitter. And you always need more of that. Our issues against left-handed pitching, also, made him a good match.”

Rockies shortstop Trevor Story smashed his sixth home run of the Cactus League season on Monday against the White Sox.( Shelly Bolt, Special to The Denver Post )

WHITE SOX 11, ROCKIES 7At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The good news for the Rockies? They played Home Run Derby against White Sox starter John Danks Monday afternoon. Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez hit back-to-back-to-back solo shots off Danks to lead off the third inning.

The bad news for the Rockies? The White Sox played long ball too, bashing four homers, two of them off struggling starter Jordan Lyles in the fourth inning.

“It has not been a good spring. I’m not sure what the numbers are, but I’m sure they’re not good,” said Lyles, whose spring ERA rose to 7.88 after he allowed seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. “But spring training is just spring training. It’s doesn’t give anybody an excuse to give up runs, but I’m healthy right now … ”

Utility player Rafael Ynoa was optioned to the minors Monday as the Rockies continued to trim their roster. (Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Rockies’ 25-man roster is close to completion, but with opening day just one week away, questions remain, including who’s going to be the backup catcher — Dustin Garneau or Tony Wolters?

The Rockies optioned utility infielder/outfielder Rafael Ynoa to the minors on Monday, clearing one space on the roster (the club also re-assigned right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter).

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Christian Bergman went right after Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning Sunday. The right-hander threw a 92-mph fastball that struck out the D-backs’ best hitter in a 2-2 count. It was the kind of regular season-looking at-bat that might nudge Bergman into Colorado’s starting rotation.

But in the fifth inning agaisnt Bergman, in an 0-0 count, Goldschmidt homered off the same fastball. It was the kind of at-bat that might cause pause.

“Any time you face a hitter like that, as good as he is, you want to get after it,” said Bergman, who threw a spring-high 74 pitches as the Rockies stretched him out into a possible starters role. “Challenge him, challenge yourself. Make it as regular season-like as possible.”

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Trevor Story, the Rockies’ rookie 23-year-old, continued his tear through the Cactus League with a home run and two doubles Saturday. “He’s playing really well, in all phases of the game,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Story’s team-leading fifth home run came off a Martin Perez changeup, hit over the center field wall in the third inning. He also doubled through the left side of the infield on a hustle play in the first and on a line drive to right field in the sixth.

“I’m just trying to stay up the middle with the ball,” Story said. “If it happens, then good stuff.”

In episode two of the On The Rox podcast, Nick Groke and Patrick Saunders talk about Rockies right-hander Jon Gray, the pitching rotation to start the season, shortstop Trevor Story, the bullpen and snow forts.

Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood struggled through three innings against the Mariners on Thursday.(Getty Images file)

MARINERS 10, ROCKIES 8At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Sloppy.

That’s the best word to describe the Rockies’ performance Thursday against the Mariners. With the seemingly endless day and games starting to blend together, it was bound to happen, but it wasn’t pretty.

Both starter Tyler Chatwood and lefty reliever Yohan Flande struggled against the Mariners. It didn’t help that Colorado committed five errors — three of them coming in succession in Seattle’s three-run second inning. Chatwood threw wildly to first, first baseman Ben Paulsen mishandled a groundball and Gerardo Parra bobbled a hit in left field, allowing runners to advance.

Manager Walt Weiss was not too concerned.

“I think we are going to be a very good defensive team,” he said.

Chatwood was touched for four runs (one earned) on seven hit over three innings. He walked one and struck out two.

“I threw too many pitches those first two innings,” said Chatwood, who finished with 64 pitches, 38 for strikes. “I wasn’t happy with that. I wanted to go deeper than that, but when the pitch count goes up in spring training you really don’t get a chance to keep pitching.

“Overall, I wasn’t very sharp today. My two-seamer was about the best it’s been and my cutter was the best it’s been, but overall I didn’t mix it up well.”

Flande, who is a huge long shot to be the fifth starter now that Jon Gray is injured, gave up his first runs of spring training. He was not sharp, yielding four run on four hits in two innings and uncorking a wild pitch.

HITS
** Carlos Gonzalez had a nice day at the plate, batting 2-for-3 and driving in three.

** Catcher Dustin Garneau, who’s been struggling at the plate, had two hits, including a double off the left-field wall to lead off the second.

** Trevor Story, the likely starting shortstop, went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Both of hits were to the opposite field (a good sign) and he raised his average to .333.

** Cristhian Adames slapped a two-run single to center in the bottom of the ninth as the Rockies cut the Mariners’ lead to 10-8.

MISSES
** Nolan Arenado finally cooled off. He was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and also committed a throwing error. It was the first time in 15 Cactus League games that Arenado didn’t get a hit. Still, his spring average is a robust .561.

** Seattle hammered reliever Brian Schlitter for two runs over five hits in one inning.

Rockies right-hander Jon Gray left Tuesday’s game against the Brewers in the first inning because of tightness in his abdomen.( Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 6, RANGERS 5 At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The game began on a somber note when starting pitcher Jon Gray departed in the first inning after feeling tightness in his abdomen.

He underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the injury, but there was no immediate word on the results or how long he might be out.

Rockies batters, meanwhile, got hot.

Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado and Gerardo Parra all hit home runs. Arenado’s two-run shot in the third was his third of the Cactus League season. He finished the game batting 1-for-3, his average dipping — if that’s the right word — to .605

HITS
** Catcher Nick Hundley, who’s quietly having a solid camp, drove in two runs with a two-out single in the fifth to put the Rockies ahead 6-2.

** Lefty reliever Boone Logan had his best inning of spring, pitching a clean sixth, striking out one.

MISSES
** Right-hander Christian Bergman faced a difficult task, coming out of the bullpen cold to replace Gray in the first. Bergman ended up walking three batters in the Brewers’ two-run first inning. He settled in after that, allowing just one base runner over his next three innings.

** It was not a good day on the hill for right-handed reliever Scott Oberg. The Brewers reached him for three runs on two hits in the seventh, the big blow a two-run homer by Alex Presley.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Rockies have their only off day of the Cactus League season on Wednesday. They resume play on Thursday, hosting the Seattle Mariners at Salt River Field, 2:10 p.m. MDT (TV — ROOT Sports; Radio — 760 AM)
Rockies’ pitchers — LHP Yohan Flande, RHP Jason Motte, RHP Justin Miller, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Miguel Castro.
Mariners’ starter — TBA

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis battled through a messy third inning to lift his club to a win against the Rangers Monday in Cactus League action.(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 9, RANGERS 6 At Surprise Stadium

Surprise, Ariz. — Chad Bettis’ pitching line didn’t look very pretty at the end of Monday’s game. Three runs allowed on seven hits over five innings.

But throw out a messy third inning in which the Rangers had five hits and scored all three runs, and it looks better.

Then, throw out the fact that the Rangers put down two perfect bunt singles and didn’t hit the ball very hard and Bettis’ spring outing looked pretty darn good.

“I felt good. I think it’s the best I’ve felt all spring,” Bettis said. “When we put up a two-spot in the top of the fourth, that’s when you have to go out there and make sure that you do what you can to keep them from scoring again.

“You have to keep your team in the ballgame. I know it’s spring training, but at the same time, it’s important to lay it all out for my teammates.”

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was impressed.

“It’s huge,” Weiss said. “Chad goes out and has a difficult third, but he keeps it together, minimizes damage, throws up zeroes and he leaves the game with the lead. That’s the types of things we need from our pitchers. … That’s a great job from Chad.”

HITS
** Nolan Arenado continued his scorched-earth spring. He finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk and is now hitting .629. He has 22 hits in 35 at-bats with multiple hits in eight consecutive games.

But it’s not just the production that impresses Weiss.

“Every time I give him the option, he wants to play,” Weiss said. “Nolan always says he wants to play. He was supposed to have today off, but he wants to make the trip to Surprise. He’s the only everyday player that wants to do that.

“So he chose to play three days in a row and travel to Surprise rather than having a day off. But, as we all know, that’s Nolan.”

** New left fielder Gerardo Parra is beginning to heat up. He hit his first homer and went 2-for-4, improving his average to .306.

** Cristhian Adames, who appears to have locked up a spot as backup shortstop and infield utility player, played well at second base. He also went 2-for-4 and smacked his second home run.

** First baseman Ben Paulsen drove in two runs with a single in the fourth. He’s hitting .303.

MISSES
** Right-hander David Hale, making his first Cactus League appearance after being kept out because of a sore hamstring, looked a bit rusty. The Rangers tagged Hale for one run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Scottsdale, Ariz. -— Nolan just kept on rollin’, but starter Jorge De La Rosa and reliever Jason Motte had a tough Sunday afternoon.

Nolan — Arenado, that is — went 2-for-3 with a double and a single in his first two at-bats, raising his batting average to a white-hot .606 (20-for-33). He leads the Cactus League in hits, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

The three-time Gold Glove third baseman has a hit in all 12 games in which he’s played, and has multiple hits in seven straight games.

De La Rosa, who entered the day having allowed only two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, got pinballed by the Giants. They beat him up for four runs on eight hits over five innings.

“Everything was bad. It was a bad game today,” De La Rosa said. “(Physically) I felt really good. I had no luck there, especially with (Brandon) Belt (who had two broken-bat base hits.)”

There were two pieces of good news for De La Rosa. One, his arm feels strong. Two, it’s still just spring training.

“I hope everything bad happens now and not in the season,” he said, managing a smile.

The Giants treated Motte like it was batting practice. The free-agent acquisition, who is competing for the closer’s job, gave up four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning, including an enormous homer to center by Belt (4-for-4, four RBIs).

“He just left too many pitches over the plate,” manager Walt Weiss said.

HITS
** Non-roster invitee Yohan Flande continues to push for a spot in the bullpen. The lefty pitched a clean sixth inning, striking out two.

** Center fielder Charlie Blackmon launched his first homer of the Cactus League, a solo shot to right to lead off the Rockies’ first inning.

** Catcher Nick Hundley hit a two-out solo homer in the sixth. His shot to left was his first homer of spring.

** Reliever Miguel Castro continues to look untouchable. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out one. He has yet to give up a run, has allowed one hit, struck out five and walked none in four innings.

MISSES

** Reliever Justin Miller gave up two runs, including a homer, in his 1 1/3 innings of work.

** Carlos Gonzalez’s bat stayed cold. He went 0-for-3 and is hitting .206.

** Dustin Garneau, the likely backup catcher now that Tom Murphy has been sent down to Triple-A, also is struggling at the plate. Filling the designated hitter role Sunday, he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, dropping his average to .118.

He had a first-inning hiccup, walking a batter to set up a two-run homer by Padres shortstop Jemile Weeks. But Chatwood settled down after that, allowing only three hits and striking out two over four innings.

Chatwood’s outing was his longest appearance since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014.

“I felt good,” Chatwood said. “The biggest thing was I got better as I went along. The second time through the lineup, I felt sharper, so that’s a big thing for me going forward, building the confidence up.”

He is especially happy with how his right arm feels.

“This is my first time to go four innings since I got hurt, so this was an exciting day to be able to get out and go four innings,” he said. “Next time I’ll go five and 75 (pitches). So I’m real excited to get back out there and go through some lineups and build some endurance up.

“I feel good. I’ve still got some stuff I need to tighten up. I’ve got to be able to make adjustments quicker. But overall I feel really good. My arm feels good, which is a big thing. That’ll come as I get more experience.”

HITS
** Brandon Barnes broke out of a spring funk, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
** Outfielder Gerardo Parra and first baseman Ben Paulsen had two hits apiece.

MISSES
** Left-handed Reliever Boone Logan, getting a late start to Cactus League games because of a sore elbow, gave up one run on one hit and threw two wild pitches in two-thirds of an inning.

Rockies all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his Cactus League tear Friday, hitting a triple and a double and boosting his average to .600.(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 6, ANGELS 6 (9 innings)At Tempe Diablo Stadium

Tempe, Ariz. — The Rockies’ spring training dynamic duo might want to save some of their hot at-bats for the regular season.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his ridiculous Cactus League tear by going 2-for-3 with a triple and a double. He’s hitting .600. Translation: 18 hits in 30 at-bats.

Prospect Trevor Story, the likely starting shortstop when the Rockies break camp, went 2-for-3 and knocked in two runs. Story is hitting .321 (9-for-28) and leads the Rockies with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

HITS
** Rebounding from a rough last outing, right-hander Jordan Lyles, who’s a lock for the starting rotation, tossed four scoreless innings.

“Most importantly, I wanted to work on being more aggressive,” said Lyles, who gave up two hits, walked two and struck out one. “It was about not giving in and (I wanted) my body language out there to be more aggressive.”

** Right-handed pitching prospect Antonio Senzatela, just 21, got chance to start against the Angels. Facing a lineup that included Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Yuniel Escobar, Senzatella did fine. He pitched three innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Trout and Pujols were 0-for-4 against him.

MISSES
** Right-hander Brock Huntzinger had a tough day. In one-third inning, the Angels bombed him for three runs on four hits, including a three-run homer by second baseman Rey Navarro.

** Minor-league outfielder Alex Castellanos was hit in the hand by a pitch in the seventh inning and was immediately removed from the game.

So how did Jeff Hoffman, the Rockies’ pitcher for the future, fare? Not so terrific.

The 23-year-old right-hander, part of the trade that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto last summer, was called up from the minor-league camp to start for Colorado against the Angels. He departed after 2 2/3 innings, the sound of hard-hit baseballs ringing in his ears. Hoffman surrendered four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out one. It could have been worse if not for some terrific defense, including two diving catches in right field by Carlos Gonzalez.

“I think, for the most part, I just didn’t get ahead and that led to problems today,” said Hoffman, who threw 61 pitches, just 30 for strikes. “Today it just wasn’t there. It was a constant fight. Their guys took some good swings and they got a few flares out there and they hit some hard.”

Gray, the rookie who has already secured a spot in the starting rotation, need only 55 pitches (39 strikes) to sail through four scoreless innings. Mixing his 95 mph fastball with an 84 mph changeup, Gray kept the Angels batters guessing. He gave up three hits, struck out three and walked one. His Cactus League ERA sits at 3.09.

HITS
** Tom Murphy celebrated St. Patrick’s day with the long ball. Murphy, competing for the backup catcher spot, slugged a solo homer off Angels left-hander Hector Santiago to lead off the third. It was just Murphy’s second hit of spring, but both have been homers.

** Outfield prospect Raimel Tapia continued his fine spring. His RBI single in the eighth raised his batting average to .385.

The Rockies anticipate there will be a few gems tossed during the season, but most off all they are counting on Bettis’ bulldog mentality and ability to keep his team in the game.

He displayed that quality Wednesday against the Dodgers, pitching his scheduled four innings, giving up two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two.

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis gave up two runs on five hits over four innings Wednesday in the Rockies’ Cactus League game against the Dodgers. (Denver Post file photo)

“His first inning was a long inning, but he was able to buckle down after that,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “I think that’s what we need. I think last year, our pitchers would get into trouble in one inning and the next inning it would be the same old inning. When you throw a lot of pitches in one inning, you have to be able to shore it up.”

Bettis gave up a leadoff walk and a double and a run in the first, but he used a groundball double play to face the minimum in the second.

“That’s one of the positives I took out of today’s outing,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He expects to do well and he expects a lot out of himself. He has a great mentality and never gives in. He believes he can can execute pitches to get out of jams.”

The one pitch Bettis wanted back was a changeup he left high in the zone in the fourth inning. Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig scorched it for a solo homer onto the grassy berm beyond the left-field fence.

“It was up. It was a poor pitch, right to the barrel of his bat,” Bettis. “It’s one of those pitches you want back, but it’s spring training and you learn to make adjustment.”

HITS
** Arenado went 2-for-3 with an RBI and is now hitting .593. The Dodgers went into an extreme shift to the left side during his at-bat in sixth, but he crushed the ball down the third-base line for an RBI double.

** Second baseman Tony Wolters, acquired off waivers before the start of camp, continues to rake. He batted 1-for-3 and is now hitting .482.

MISSES
** Prospect Carlos Estevez had a rough eighth inning. He lacked command and the Dodgers took advantage, scoring three runs runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Two runs came across when Estevez uncorked a high wild pitch that catcher Dustin Garneau had trouble locating.

** Right-hander Christian Bergman struggled a bit, giving up two runs on two hits in his three innings. Bergman, bidding to be Colorado’s long reliever, did strike out three.

Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa has looked good in the early stages of spring training.(Denver Post file photo)

ROCKIES 6, ATHLETICS 2At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — There is usually something bothering Jorge De La Rosa at some point in spring training.

In past years, the Rockies’ left-hander worked through physical issues, especially tightness in his groin. Not this year.

De La Rosa, who paid special attention to improving his flexibility during the offseason, has bolted out of the gate like a thoroughbred. He had pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings over his first two appearances until Oakland’s Matt Chapman finally tagged him Tuesday afternoon, belting a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth.

“I felt good,” De La Rosa said. “The mistake I made with (Chapman) was the only big one I made. My control wasn’t there, but I was able to get the outs when I needed them.”

Oakland’s first inning was proof of that. The A’s loaded the bases when Jed Lowrie got an infield single and Billy Butler walked, but De La Rosa turned stingy, striking out Josh Phegley and getting Jake Smolinski to groundout to shortstop Trevor Story.

De La Rosa’s line: 3 2/3 innings, five hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

HITS
** .583. That’s what Nolan Arenado is batting in the Cactus League. The all-star third baseman smacked a first-inning double to left and added a run-scoring single in the fifth. In 24 at-bats, he has 14 hits.

** New outfielder Gerardo Parra, who started in center, stole second and then stole third in the fifth inning, scoring on Arenado’s single.

** Mark Reynolds, starting at first base and hitting fifth, smashed a three-run homer in the third off Oakland starter Rich Hill.

** Left-hander Yohan Flande, trying to find a way to make the roster, continues to impress. He pitched three innings of one-hit baseball, striking out two. His spring ERA is 1.29.

MISSES
** It was not a good day at the plate for Carlos Gonzalez. He went 0-for-3, striking out twice.

** First baseman Kyle Parker was charged with an error when he misplayed a slow chopper in the eighth. It was a difficult play, but Parker should have made it.

Peoria, Ariz. — There was plenty for manager Walt Weiss to smile about after the Rockies’ victory over Seattle on Monday. Tyler Chatwood put up zeroes, Ryan Raburn illustrated why the Rockies’ signed him and Trevor Story continued writing one of the the best chapters of spring training.

Chatwood didn’t overpower the Mariners, but kept the ball down and followed his game plan. Chatwood pitched three scoreless, hitless innings and induced two double play groundouts. Eight of his nine outs came via groundballs. The only downside were the two walks he issued.

Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood, coming back from his second Tommy John surgery, threw three solid innings Monday against the Mariners. Chatwood allowed no runs and no hits.

“Today I was just kind of getting a feel for my sinker,” Chatwood said. “It’s been kind of inconsistent, but today it got a lot better. I still have work to do, but today I felt good.”

Chatwood, returning from his second Tommy John surgery, said his elbow feels “normal and strong.”

His fastball was moving at 89-92 mph Monday — down a few clicks from what he used to throw — but his command was excellent and he threw with a nice, easy motion.

“Two Tommy Johns will do that to you,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t want to crank on my elbow too much.”

HITS
** Story, continuing his strong audition to be the starting shortstop, continues to rake big-league pitching. He tripled off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the first inning and then scored on a wild pitch. He drew a walk off Hernndez in the third and then hit an opposite-field, solo homer to right in the seventh off right-hander Joaquin Benoit. Story’s four home runs lead the Rockies.

“He’s in a really good place,” Weiss said. “He’s in complete control with what he’s doing right now. He looks very comfortable right now.”

** Raburn, competing for a spot on the 25-man roster, had a big day. The veteran outfielder had a double, two singles and four RBIs in three at-bats. The Rockies signed him because of his ability to hit left-handers, but all three hits Monday came off right-handers.

“I haven’t had too many (at-bats) against right-handers the last couple of years, so that felt good,” he said. “I just want to show the Rockies that I can play, go from there and see what happens.”

Raburn, who will earn $1.5 million if he makes the big-league team, said his spring training hits matter, but said statistics are not the only thing that will determine if he makes the club.

“I think to a certain extent (they matter), but I do have a track record,” said Raburn, who has 10 seasons under his big-league belt and a career .256 average. “So I still have to show them what I can do. I don’t want to go out there and not get a hit in spring training.”

MISSES
** Right-hander Eddie Butler came into spring training hoping he could crack the starting rotation, but three weeks before the regular-season opener, he’s still making critical mistakes at critical times — hence his 7.04 ERA.

Butler gave up four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Mariners. All four runs scored when there were two outs, including back-to-back solo homers by Adam Lind and Franklin Gutierrez.

“He needs to take that next step, where he’s finishing hitters and he’s finishing the inning,” Weiss said. “Early in the at-bat, he’s gotten into decent counts, but then he’s had a probelm finishing the at-bat. Likewise with a the inning. He gets a couple of quick outs, but then things snowball.

“But he’s throwing the ball well. Today was a little bit tougher outing, but the last couple outings have been encouraging for Eddie.”

** Catcher Tommy Murphy, bidding to become the backup catcher behind Nick Hundley, was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and left four runners stranded as the designated hitter. He’s hitting 1-for-18 (0.56) this spring, his only hit a home run.

Sunday afternoon at Salt River Fields, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw did what he usually does to the Rockies. He shut them down. The left-hander threw five scoreless innings in a Cactus League game.AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Here’s the most important thing to know about Sunday’s Cactus League game between the Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers: Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles, who will likely be the club’s No. 3 or No. 4 starter, needed 55 pitches to struggle through 2 1/3 innings. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw needed only 61 to get through his five scoreless innings.

“I guess that’s the good thing about spring training — you have these types of outings and it’s a lot easier to get over it, find the positive and move on,” Lyles said after getting rocked for four runs on five hits.

He pitched for the cycle, giving up a home run to Scott Van Slyke to lead off the second, and later served up a double to Cody Bellinger and a triple to Andre Ethier. To add to the misery index, Lyles walked Kershaw on four pitches in the second inning to load the bases and set up Joc Pederson’s two-run single.

Lyles fastball command, so sharp in his last outing, was AWOL on Sunday.

“I know what was wrong. I should have corrected it while I was out there during the (second) inning or when (I went) back out there for the third inning,” he said. “I’m just falling off, not staying toward home plate.”

Lyle’s outing began with a crisp first inning in which he set down the order and struck out Chase Utley on a gorgeous changeup.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.